Another Charing Cross officer guilty of gross misconduct

Former PC Brian Sharkey, attached to Central West Command Unit before he retired, made comments that showed a clear lack of empathy towards victims of sexual assault and rape. He also made unprofessional and discriminatory comments about members of the public.

At Friday’s hearing (February 13), he was found to have breached standards of professional behaviour in relation to authority, respect and courtesy, discreditable conduct, and equality and diversity.

As a former officer the only sanction available was that he would have been dismissed had he still been serving. Having heard all the circumstances of the case, including representations from former PC Sharkey, the chair of the hearing decided the former officer would not be placed on the police Barred List.

The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said that between October and November, seven MPS officers were dismissed and placed on police’s barred list and in January a former Gloucestershire officer, who had transferred from the force but recently resigned, was also dismissed and placed on the barred list. The former officer was working for the MPS at the time Panorama was filmed and made comments supporting inappropriate use of force against detainees. He had transferred to Gloucestershire in March 2025. The hearing found he would have been dismissed had he not already resigned in November 2025.

The MPS withdrew proceedings for a tenth officer – a sergeant – who remains under gross misconduct investigation regarding their use of force.

IOPC Director Amanda Rowe said: “We were all shocked and appalled by some of the conduct we saw from officers in the documentary, and our team of investigators has worked at pace to investigate their actions.

“This enabled the force to dismiss the officers at the earliest opportunity and shows how seriously we, along with the force, have treated this matter.”

Commander Simon Messinger, Professionalism, said: “The actions of those featured in the programme have a clear impact on the trust and confidence the public have in us to act with integrity and professionalism and keep people safe while in our care. It is absolutely right these officers are no longer in the Met.

“Their dismissals come in the context of the Met’s wider and determined efforts to raise standards, which has seen more than 1,400 officers and staff leave the organisation in the last three years.

“We are supporting the ongoing IOPC investigation while our own work continues at pace to address the cultural issues in the Met that created an environment where these abhorrent views could be seen as acceptable behaviour.

“It will enable the good people in our organisation to thrive as they serve to protect London while ridding us of those who have absolutely no place being here.”

All those subject to hearings, apart from former PC Sharkey, are being placed on the Barred List held by the College of Policing to prevent them re-joining the police or being employed by other related bodies.

The MPS said since Panorama, it has worked hard to deal with the issues raised, including disbanding the custody team at Charing Cross and making changes to local leadership. Wider work continues including around training and regular staff rotation.

The IOPC investigation has widened since Panorama due to examination of BBC footage that was not broadcast.

A PC, attached to Central West Command Unit, will face a misconduct hearing on April 1 for alleged inappropriate comments about use of force against a detainee. He is suspended from duty.

The MPS said two officers are also under criminal investigation. One is a former PC previously attached to Central West Command Unit who featured in the documentary and has already been dismissed. The second is a sergeant, attached to Central West Command Unit, arrested by the force on October 2 on suspicion of perverting the course of justice relating to a incident at Charing Cross police station and linked to matters disclosed in BBC Panorama. The sergeant is suspended and on bail.

Two more officers, both attached to Central West Command Unit, are being investigated for gross misconduct – a PC for inappropriate comments on use of force, and a PC for also making inappropriate comments on use of force as well as about a female member of the public. They are both suspended from duty.

Following an IOPC witness appeal, a sergeant, attached to Central West Command Unit, is being investigated for potential gross misconduct for alleged inappropriate and sexualised comments about women and failing to challenge similar behaviour by junior officers. He is suspended from duty.

An IOPC investigation also continues for a sergeant, attached to MPS Detention, featured on BBC Panorama. He was originally due to face an accelerated misconduct hearing but, due to further enquiries, now remains under gross misconduct investigation, the force said. He is suspended.

Ms Rowe added: “We know there were concerns about the behaviour of officers at Charing Cross following the documentary, particularly in light of the issues we found during our previous investigation involving officers at that station.

“It’s vital for public confidence that officers whose behaviour falls far below what the public deserve and expect are held to account and swift action is taken, to ensure they are removed from policing.

“Our dedicated team of investigators are continuing to work through a substantial amount of footage. Where we identify further concerns about officers’ conduct, we will not hesitate to ensure that appropriate action is taken at the earliest opportunity.

“Our role is to investigate individual conduct matters and complaints, but we have also been discussing wider matters, including culture and leadership, with MOPAC, as the body which oversees the Met Police.”